Cold storm to bring rain, snow to Southland

SOUTHLAND FORECAST

Wednesday: Rain likely, mainly after 11 a.m. Cloudy, with high near 58 degrees. Chance of rain 60 percent during the day and 100 percent in the evening.

Thursday: Partly sunny, high near 66.

ONTARIO

Wednesday: Rain likely, mainly after 11 a.m. Cloudy, high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent during the day and 90 percent in the evening.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 67.

VICTORVILLE

Wednesday: 40 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, high near 59. Winds at 20 to 30 mph, gusts up to 50 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent in the evening.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 67.

BIG BEAR LAKE

Wednesday: 50 percent chance of rain and snow before 11 a.m. Cloudy, high near 42. Wind gusts as high as 35 mph.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, gradually becoming sunny, high near 49.

LOS ANGELES

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly after 11 a.m. Cloudy, high near 63. Winds at 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain is 60 percent.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 68.

WEST COVINA

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly after 11 a.m. Cloudy, high near 66. Winds at 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 72. Wind gusts as high as 15 mph.

PASADENA

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly after 11 a.m. Cloudy, high near 64. Winds at 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 70 degrees. Wind gusts as high as 15 mph.

TORRANCE

Wednesday: 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, high near 68.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 72. Gusts as high as 15 mph.

LONG BEACH

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly after 11 a.m. Cloudy, high near 61. Winds at 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 65.

Source: National Weather Service

Fall began just two weeks ago, but Southern California is getting an early taste of winter.

The opening storm of the wet season will bring chilly weather, rain and even light snow to local mountains Wednesday, although the chance of rain in Torrance and elsewhere in the South Bay is only about 50 percent.

Amounts will be modest, too, generally less than a tenth of an inch across most of the county, but enough to make Southern California freeways slick with oil.

Highs in Torrance on Wednesday will be about 5 degrees cooler than Tuesday, but temperatures inland in such locales as San Gabriel and San Bernardino will drop about 20 degrees from Tuesday’s mid-70s, according to the National Weather Service.

A modest one-third of an inch may fall in the southern foothills and the San Gabriel Mountains.

Since January, Los Angeles has had 2.72 inches of rain, when it normally receives 11.8 inches. And October does not tend to be a rainy month.

“Compared to the last nine months, this will definitely be welcome, but it’s not a drought-buster or a fire-season stopper,” Patzert said.

Most of the leaves in the Big Bear Lake area have already turned bright shades of yellow, auburn and red for fall.

But the possibility of snow is also welcome, said Dan McKernan, a spokesman for the Big Bear Lake Resort Association.

“Anything to get the excitement rolling is always a good thing,” he said.

The snow level in the San Bernardino Mountains should drop to 5,500 to 6,000 feet Wednesday through early Thursday. A few inches of snow could fall at elevations higher than 6,000 feet and 6 inches on the highest peaks.

Some residents on the mountain don’t expect to see quite that much.

“There’s speculation that it’s going to happen, but it will be a very small dusting,” McKernan said.

The National Weather Service also warned of wind gusts in the mountains and deserts that could reach up to 65 mph in some areas.